The home invasion of an Arizona woman playing an online video game has been thwarted when people watching a video feed called the police.

A friend of the victim watching the livestream on Monday saw two men with guns break down the woman's apartment door while she was playing the game, Lieutenant Michael Pooley, of Tempe police, said.

"From behind her, the door gets kicked in. Two guys come in with guns," Lt Pooley said, describing what was visible on the video feed.

The victim leaves the screen as she realises intruders are in the house

Police rushed to the scene and found one man still in the apartment.

The suspect, Edgardo Martinez, 27, was held on suspicion of armed robbery, kidnapping, first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm and credit card theft.

The other man remains at large.

The 28-year-old victim and her 29-year-old roommate were not injured..

According to Lt Pooley, authorities elsewhere also got calls from people who were watching the video feed and also witnessed the break-in.

“There were several callers from around the world, who were trying to find out who this victim was and they were watching this whole thing occur, while she was being assaulted and the home invasion was occurring,” he said.

Suspect Edgardo Martinez

"These people calling in is what really saved them."

Lt Pooley said he did not immediately know the name of the game that the woman was playing, but Phoenix TV station KTVK reported it was Defense of the Ancients 2.